TECHMAN

That "deco" style trailer, when looking in a bunch of my old truck-books, shows up (basically) from mid-50's to mid-60's, so if you're doing a "period build", that should fit the bill. DJ

Today, I decided to stir all the bottle paints........ Many of the bottles date back to 2004 up thru 2012...... Total of 180+ bottles, only about 40 of which were from the past five years. Only O N E of the early dated bottles had "turned to jello", but, 4 of the later-purchased had. And, ALL FOUR were ones that were Testor's enamel, and, all four were ones that I had "thinned down" with Testor's reducer....... Bill (ACE) had mentioned some time ago, that he thought they (Testor's) had changed their "formula", definately will side with him on this one! Have SEVERAL of the old dated that were thinned with their "earlier-version" type of thinners, and those were still quite usable. And all four of the ones that "died a horrible death" were thinned with the "current" version of their thinner. Just a word to the wise: You might want to try "other options" when thinning their enamel paints, unless you just like opening new bottles!!!!! 😒 DJ

My "two-bits": My teen-years were the 60's, and for a youngster that ALWAYS had interest/involvement in the "automotive scene", I can't think of ANY time that could have been better for a "motorhead" to grow up in. Got my first car at 14 (bought with money that I EARNED) and with Dad's help, reworked/repaired it back into solid shape, and then resold it before I was 16. Took the proceeds, (along with more $$ that I'd earned) and bought my first 55 Chevy, (my first "money-pit"😉.) Took a job working after school at a Parts Store (mainly to get to work in their machine shop and learn the trade). That (along with working in Dad's shop for him) allowed me enough spending money, that without a PROPER FATHER FIGURE would have most likely allowed me to have gotten into plenty of trouble. Dad had some different racecars, had an old '58 Harley "dresser" (he bought new and always kept like a show-piece) and LOVED different types of vehicles with LOTS of power. But, EVERYTHING IN IT'S PLACE! Yes he raced (and I was allowed to), but NOT on the city streets, I was allowed to attend all sorts of Automotive events, but NOT "stuff" going on like in the video that Bill posted, I was allowed "freedoms" that most kids my age never were, and I went places & did things that most people my age only dreamed about. BUT, it came at a cost...... "Pop" would have NEVER put up with the kind of behavior out of me, that I watched in that video! I KNEW where my actions were "allowable" and where they weren't, and I didn't want to lose that "freedom" to come-and-go to automotive events (etc.) so, I stayed "within bounds". Not to say I was "perfect" (far from it, I was a fairly typical teenager), I was just raised in a household (by a WWII and Korean Vet) who passed down certain values & beliefs that he fought for to defend. (And, that I have never had to apologize for, nor will I apologize for.) All that to say, I think that a LOT of the "problem" that I can see (IMHO) in that video, goes back to more of a "decline" in parental guidance in allowing their kids to "get to this point" in the first place, and yes, then their actions DO effect those of us that still love car-races, car-shows, rod-runs, cruise-nights, etc..... And if something don't change, then we'll lose more and more venues that we hold dear...... NOT a political statement, nor a sermon on morality, just a 75 year old guy's observation, and a hope that, a "small group of yahoos" won't ruin it for the rest of us...... DJ

OH YES!!!!! A 281 Pete would also be another HOME-RUN for Round 2!!!!! The B-Model Mack could be the thing that "opens the flood gate" when they see the sales go out thru the roof. Have to commend Round 2 for taking such a big step, and I truly believe they will be extremely well rewarded. DJ

Maybe they could do a cab like the AMT Freightliner Cab-over kit, that could separate behind the doors, and have one rear section to complete the day cab, the other to complete the cab as the "integrated-sleeper" version??????????? TIM Any idea as to the engine???? The old Thermodyne hopefully...... Regardless, Will have three or four ordered as soon as they are available to be ordered. 👍👍 to Round 2 DJ

P L E A S E be a 1/25 scale kit!!!!!! Have one AITM resin cab-kit to build one of dad's (I grew up riding in), but would love to see a nice kit put out, and, as popular as the trucks were, has always amazed me that there was never a model kit done of it....... If they're gonna be 1/25 scale, can put me down for several. DJ

The AMT 49 Mercury kit, has a really nice old MAX-WEDGE as the optional engine, would be a great addition to the restoration of this kit. Hollar if you need one Bill.... DJ

Can't get the old rules to come up, are they gone, or is there a problem on my end????? TIA DJ

And "product quality" seems to have gone the same way as "customer service".......... When it rains, it pours.......😒 DJ

You know, over the years, seems as tho people get "braver" when they can hide behind a phone or computer screen..... I really MISS the "good old days" when business was done "face to face", a hand-shake was all the "contract" a person needed, and a person's word was worth something...... Hope you get it resolved without too much more headache. DJ

The loss of the photos makes a thread sorta "lame", but, having some type of spyware/virus take over the forum, seems to me, to be far worse....... Only my humble opinion..... If the changes are done for the sake of the safety of the forum, then, carry on. DJ

THANKS AGAIN...... Just using the "replacement" for cleaning brushes..... The only Tamiya bottled paints that I use, are the Smoke, and the three "tint" colors (amber, red, & blue} to go over chrome to simulate anodizing. The brushes, however, were "upper-end" camel hair purchased nearly 20-25 years ago, so I try to keep them in good shape. Again, thank each of you for your help. DJ

THANKS GUYS.... We have a HUGE Amazon only 18 miles north, but, unfortunately, I do not/have not ever dealt with them, nor set up any type of account with them. Guess I should..... The lacquer thinner, I keep by the gallon out in the shop, and "refill" my little Testor's bottles from that, so, problem solved...... Thanks for posting the link to the earlier thread, was exactly what I needed. Thanks for each of your help DJ

I'm certain this subject has been covered before, but I was not able to find the thread (nor answer my question) by using the search option, so first, let me say "sorry" for digging up something that has been covered...... My question is this: I know that others on the forum have found alternatives for Tamiya "thinner/brush-cleaner" that works successfully with their "X" series bottle paints, what were you using? For me to use the Tamiya version, requires a 140 mile round trip, and hoping that the Hobbytown has it in stock when I get there (they are sometimes "out-of-stock"). Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED, Thanks in advance. DJ

oh wow.....really!!!!! Some clown brings in a "pos" like that, then complains because "it takes longer than he thinks it should" to do A N Y T H I N G to it....... If anyone had brought something "in that shape" into my shop' they would have been shown the exit. Fortunately, I always was blessed to have more business than I could handle, and to me, "up-sizing" only meant having to employ more people that did not always "share" my work standards/ethics. If the owner of that "vehicle" thought he was being over-charged, then my simple solution: "DO IT YOURSELF THERE BUB..... You know what YOUR time is worth, and I know what MY time is worth." You don't think that a "skilled laborer" is worth the money, think the situation over again the next time your can won't flush and is running all over the floor. DJ

Hey There..... I thought you'd gotten the traveling out of your system!!!! 😉 Good to see you've got something to keep you occupied. Look forward to seeing the progress. Will try to keep up. DJ

For some "modern cast" version of that "pie-crust" slick (in that same scale size), check with Modelhaus Tires. They are still in business. Their #135 tire has the whitewall on one side, blackwall other side, the #135A has whitewall on both sides, and #135B has blackwall on both sides. Priced reasonable, super quality, and good people to deal with. DJ

A couple of the old companies that come to mind, were Offenhauser and EELCO...... Remember seeing somewhat that style (that AMT copied) but to save my life, cannot recall..... have spent the past couple hours looking thru early 60's/late 50's Hot Rod magazines, to no avail..... For whatever reason, the old Blown Hydro Boats keep coming to mind...... May just be the wanderings of an old man's mind....😉 DJ

IF you google search the rocketfin.com (that you have brought up in another thread) then scroll down to the "Model Car Links", it will bring you to the page that Rocketfin has a very useful listing of suppliers (resin, 3-d printed, plastics, paints, etc.), in the first grouping you will find the link to MIKE'S DECALS. I went to it just before responding, and his website worked perfectly. DJ

A L L early Nova cars (whether coupe/sedan/or wagon), were the same wheelbase. Single wheelbase. 1968 up Nova cars shared the longer wheelbase. Single wheelbase. I would LOVE to hear the "experts" that were expounding on a "double-wheelbase-car", and find out where they were coming up with this information. And speaking of Novas, there was a spell-of-time when the Nova front-clip (as well as the Camaro front-clip) were super popular answers to "updating" the front suspension on various old cars/pickups/street-rods, (before the days of the Mustang II/ Fat-Boy front ends). Done properly, those cars still maintained a "squared-and-equal" wheelbase...... Some amateurs who BUTCHERED the installation, did, in fact, end up with two different wheelbases on the same car, and the car, the ability to "crab walk" down the road. This whole thread, brings to mind a couple-of-three older pickups that passed thru my hands (years ago) that had been "clipped", oh goodie........More projects!!!! 😉 DJ

GUYS The reason I'm asking about this, I need a GOOD 1/25 scale 69 Camaro kit to build a replica of a friend's car (we lost Dean in a wreck back in 1978). His car was a 1969 RS/SS 396, 4-spd Camaro. Was set up to race "brackets", and was raced primarily at I-20 Dragstrip in Tyler, Texas. Occasionally ran at Hallsville Dragstrip. Been a lot of years, and seeing that kit, guess it's finally time to honor him. Ran his license plates on my last racecar (OLE SS on the rear, and USA-1 front), they hang on the wall in the garage to this day. Don't mind spending some extra money for a really decent kit, just need the help to get the right one. THANKS DJ

Having watched the development of the funny-cars/match-racers, I think you did a great job of capturing the simplicity of the earliest versions. They were primarily "Monster-Motor"/lightest-weight combination that they could come up with, (good example being the first "flopper" body Mercury Cyclone). Great job!!!! DJ

I notice that AMT has a 69 COPO Camaro kit, Hot Wheels edition in their up & coming releases, my question is this, will this new kit have engine/transmission and the parts to build a complete car, or will it be one of those "curbside/snap type" skill level 0, kits? Anyone that might know???? DJ

Have noticed, in the wife's little Toyota RAV4 (6 speed auto trans), going down the Cumberland Parkway, in level spots, tach is about 2000 running 70, but there are few level areas, moment you head up one of the 2-mile long 6% grades, first convertor kicks out tach up to 2600 (approx.), then a ways farther, down-shifts and tach jumps up to about 3400..... Watching the "gas mileage readout", gas mileage drops proportionately to the tach climbing upwards...... Don't think that a dozen more gears is gonna do any great thing in these hills..... In defense of the "multi-gear" transmissions, having additional gears to work with, you are keeping in the powerband, and not "over-working" the smaller engine to climb the hills..... DJ

MIKE Will have a look, think that engine should have most of what you're looking for. Will see when I go out to the hobby room later today. DJ